crab

¹crab

noun, often attributive \ˈkrab\

Definition of CRAB

1

plural crabs also crab : any of numerous chiefly marine broadly built decapod crustaceans:

a : any of an infraorder (Brachyura) with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers

b : any of various crustaceans of an infraorder (Anomura) resembling true crabs in the more or less reduced condition of the abdomen

2

capitalized : cancer 1

3

plural : infestation with crab lice

4

: the angular difference between an aircraft's course and the heading necessary to make that course in the presence of a crosswind

Origin of CRAB

Middle English crabbe, from Old English crabba; akin to Old High German krebiz crab and perhaps to Old English ceorfan to carve — more at carve

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Invertebrates (Except Insects) Terms

anemone, cephalopod, quahog

Rhymes with CRAB

ab, blab, cab, Crabbe, dab, drab, fab, flab, gab, grab, jab, lab, Lab, Mab, nab, scab, slab, stab, tab

²crab

verb

crabbedcrab·bing

Definition of CRAB

intransitive verb

1

: to fish for crabs

2

a (1) : to move sideways indirectly or diagonally (2) : to crab an airplane

b : to scuttle or scurry sideways

transitive verb

1

: to cause to move sideways or in an indirect or diagonal manner; specifically : to head (an airplane) into a crosswind to counteract drift

2

: to subject to crabbing

— crab·ber noun

First Known Use of CRAB

1657

³crab

noun

Definition of CRAB

: crab apple

Origin of CRAB

Middle English crabbe, perhaps from crabbe ¹crab

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

⁴crab

noun

Definition of CRAB

: an ill-tempered person : grouch

First Known Use of CRAB

1580

⁵crab

verb

crabbedcrab·bing

Definition of CRAB

transitive verb

1

: to make sullen : sour <old age has crabbed his nature>

2

: to complain about peevishly

3

: spoil, ruin

intransitive verb

: carp, grouse <always crabs about the weather>

— crab·ber noun

Origin of CRAB

Middle English crabben, probably back-formation from crabbed

First Known Use: 1662

crab

noun \ˈkrab\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of CRAB

1

: any of a tribe (Brachyura) of chiefly marine crustaceans with a short broad usually flattened carapace, a small abdomen that curls forward beneath the body, short antennae, and the anterior pair of limbs modified as grasping pincers

2

crabs pl : infestation with crab lice

crab

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Common swimming crab (Portunus holsatus), showing its paddle-shaped feet—Dr. Eckart Pott/Bruce Coleman Ltd.

Any of 4,500 species of short-tailed decapod, found in all oceans, in freshwater, and on land. Its carapace (upper body shield) is usually broad, and its first pair of legs is modified into pincers. Most crabs live in the sea and breathe through gills, which in land crabs are modified to serve as lungs. They walk or crawl, generally with a sideways gait; some are good swimmers. Crabs are omnivorous scavengers, but many are predatory and some are herbivorous. Two of the largest known crustaceans are the giant crab of Japan (13 ft, or 4 m, from claw tip to claw tip), a spider crab; and the Tasmanian crab (up to 18 in., or 46 cm, long, and weighing more than 20 lbs, or 9 kg). Other species are less than an inch long. Well-known crabs include the hermit crab, edible crab (Britain and Europe), blue crab, Dungeness crab, fiddler crab, and king crab.